Chelmsford

Chelmsford's population grew in the 10 years leading up to the latest census. At the same time there were changes in housing tenure, marriage and work life.

The population reached nearly 170,000

In the 10 years leading up to the latest census, the population of Chelmsford increased by 7.2%, from about 157,000 to 168,000.

The addition of just over 11,000 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Chelmsford was home to, on average, 3.5 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across Eastof England

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across Eastof England, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Chelmsford

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Chelmsford increased by two years, from 38 to 40 years.

This growing rural area had a slightly higher average age than Eastof England and remained slightly older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of about 5,000 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by about 2,000.

About 11% of people in Chelmsford are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Chelmsford by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Chelmsford

The percentage of Chelmsford residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 2.2% to 2.8% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 7.4%, while the percentage of Chelmsford residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 90%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 2.7% in 2001 to 3.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Chelmsford that rented privately increased from 6.7% to 12% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage that lived in social housing remained close to 13%, while the percentage of Chelmsford households that owned their home decreased from 78% to 73%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 8.6% in 2001 to 15% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Chelmsford increased by 5.3 percentage points

Percentage of households in Chelmsford, Eastof England and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Chelmsford

The percentage of single people in Chelmsford increased from 28% to 31% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in two (52%) people aged 16 and over said they were married, compared with 56% in 2001. The percentage of adults in Chelmsford that had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased from 9.8% to 11%.

The proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 27% in 2001 to 31% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 30% to 35%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Chelmsford working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 15% to 12% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.9%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 2.0% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 15% in 2001 to 11% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Chelmsford decreased by 3.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Chelmsford, Eastof England and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Chelmsford residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 6.1% to 3.7% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (85%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 74% in 2001. The percentage of Chelmsford residents that described their health as fair decreased from 20% to 11%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 7.6% in 2001 to 4.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Chelmsford decreased by 2.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Chelmsford, Eastof England and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More people cohabiting

The percentage of households in Chelmsford, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 8.4% to 10% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage that had only one person remained close to 27%, while the percentage of households in Chelmsford which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 43% to 39%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 8.8% in 2001 to 10% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.3% to 9.9%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of households that had an unmarried couple across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Chelmsford residents that were unemployed increased from 2.1% to 3.4% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (57%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 58% in 2001. The percentage of Chelmsford residents that were self-employed increased from 9.0% to 10%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 2.6% in 2001 to 3.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in Chelmsford increased by 1.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Chelmsford, Eastof England and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Chelmsford with only adult children living with their parents increased from 9.8% to 10% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under 3 in 10 (29%) households had at least one dependent child, compared with 30% in 2001. The percentage of households in Chelmsford without children remained close to 60%.

The proportion of households with adult children living with their parents increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 9.3% in 2001 to 9.6% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.4% to 9.6%.

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was higher than across Eastof England

Percentage of households where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Chelmsford residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 0.8% to 1.0% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under 1 in 50 (1.8%) reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 1.4% in 2001.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 0.9% in 2001 to 1.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Chelmsford remained close to 1.0%

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Chelmsford by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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